Happy Saturday, and welcome to Inside Voices, a weekly newsletter that features a collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah — without any of the vitriol or yelling that’s become all too common on other platforms. Subscribe here.

Utahns across the state are speaking up about a “hyperscale” data center in rural Box Elder County and the implications it will have on water, growth and transparency in government.

Some who live near the site worry about increased costs and are asking leaders to slow down.

“As a resident of Box Elder County, I worry about possible increases in my utility bills — both water and electricity — as well as in my property taxes related to the strain placed on our local infrastructure by this data center,” Lynn Martinez writes in a letter to the editor. “I urge the county’s elected leaders to slow down and conduct the necessary studies and public hearings before moving this project forward.”

Two local researchers, however, make the case that handling data centers the “right” way is a “real win for Utah families.”

“If we hold the line on our principles, data centers can bring high-paying jobs, a broader tax base and a signal to the world that Utah is open for the industries of the future,” Josh T. Smith and Megan Jenkins with the Pacific Legal Foundation write in an op-ed. “They can be part of a story where Utah continues to grow without losing what makes it special.”

Kajsa Hendrickson, a sustainability professional who works with energy developers, writes in an op-ed that “Utahns should know what they are actually getting and what they are being asked to sacrifice.” She offers a list of questions Utahns should ask of developers.

“Even if data centers are on private land,” she writes, “their operations impact their neighbors or the rest of the state. Utahns being faced with data center development should advocate for clear costs and benefits to decide if they are willing to host.”

I’ll keep searching for perspectives from those involved and impacted but, in the meantime, let me know: What concerns do you have about data centers in Utah?

Utah Voices

Take a look at these op-eds and letters to the editor recently published in The Tribune:

I used to feel valued as a Utah educator. Now, I’m not so sure.

Three incidents in one school year reveal a chilling pattern in Utah.

Utah’s outdated oil rules put taxpayers at risk. There’s a clear solution.

Street names aren’t just markers on a map. They’re statements about our values.

More parents are refusing this shot. Babies are paying the price.

Share Your Perspective

I want to hear from you: How do you define “cancel culture”? Where have you seen it happen? What impact has it had on you, on the “canceled” person and on society?

I’m always looking for unique perspectives, ideas and solutions that move our state forward. Learn more about our guidelines for an op-ed, guest essay, letter to the editor and more here, and drop me a note at voices@sltrib.com.